Back in 2005, I whittled away my free time at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait reading John Elderidge’s book Wild At Heart. Well, needless to say, I felt a little inadequate. I didn’t skydive or bungee jump or go wilderness camping or do UFC fighting. I didn’t bowhunt (with a bowstaff — a shout out to Napoleon Dynamite — my favorite movie) or fish barehanded or wrestle bears or walk across America with only some bottled water, 2 paperclips and a spare pair of socks. I, as it turned out, was very tame at heart.
Well, this morning I had a little “Wild At Heart” moment, at least for me. I was driving my Mustang to the church. It had rained overnight and the roads were just a little wet. I made a right hand turn on red and took off (trying to clear the distance between myself and oncoming traffic — safety first). Well, the rear tires started to spin . . . but I kept the gas on. The rear end started to slide to the left, so I turned the wheel slightly to the left . . . and I kept the gas on. The car straightened out, the rear wheels grabbed the asphalt and I moved on down the road . . . as grin crept on to my face.
Because my wife and son will read this . . . I never exceeded the posted speed limit and I drove the rest of the way incident free. The whole episode only lasted a few seconds . . . but that same grin on my face lasted all the way to church.
You don’t need bears or woodlands or parachutes to go a little wild, just a little wet pavement and a little horsepower.
WARNING: I NEITHER ENDORSE NOR PROMOTE RECKLESS DRIVING. BUT A LITTLE SAFE FUN IS OK. NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED IN THIS WILD AT HEART MOMENT.
I have limited criticism of Wild at Heart.
Like you I did not relate to all of the wild outdoor activities that John Eldridge suggested. However, my view of Christ as to what my Bible says that Christ was low in spirit, that he had no place to lay his head at night, He said, ‘the meek shall inherit the earth’, etc.
In my humble opinion, I am constantly evaluating my life to see how it lines up with Jesus in the Bible not in an outdoor book for testosterone challenged Christian men.
God bless…
I agree Jerry. Sometimes it is difficult to keep “the first things, first.”
If you ever do want to go wrestle bears or something- I’m in!
Dan, if i EVER want to wrestle a bear, you will be the first person I call!!